Study on the Crash Simulation Model for the Protective Member of Flexible Structure

Abstract

The protective member of flexible structure such as the protective net has been developed against tornado missiles in nuclear power plants. However, modeling methods/knowledge of flexible structure were not much reported as compared with stiff structure like concrete walls. In order to obtain the modeling methods, a comparative study has been carried out about simulation models where a sheet of protective rope net subjected to impact loading with a free drop weight by various impact positions. Here, ropes of the net are modeled with beam elements and a nonlinear spring model, while a steel flame supporting the net is modeled with shell elements and an elasto-plastic material considered strain rate dependency of flow stress. It is found that the case where the impact position slips off in the long-side direction of the ropes shows a significant influence on both the maximum tensile force of ropes and the impact load.